It turns out, butt acne is rarely acne. In most cases, butt acne is actually folliculitis, a skin condition that occurs when a hair follicle gets inflamed or infected and develops a whitehead around the follicle as a result. It might sound concerning, but it's completely normal.
“Acne-like bumps on the buttocks are caused by inflammation of hair follicles, which is called folliculitis,” says MacKelfresh. Folliculitis can be caused by an infection from bacteria, yeast, or fungus, irritation of hair follicles, or blockage of hair follicles, she says.
Though most patients experience stress acne in the T-zone of the face, stress acne breakouts can develop elsewhere on the body, particularly among patients who have a history of acne breakouts on the back, chest, neck, buttocks, or other areas.
Hormones: Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, board-certified dermatologist, explains that there is a hormonal component to butt acne.
Salicylic acid — a staple in many medicine cabinets already — is helpful for unclogging pores and sloughing away dead skin cells. “For this reason, larger red bumps tend to be best treated with benzoyl peroxide while smaller breakouts will often do well with a salicylic-acid-containing cleanser,” Garshick says.
Zeichner adds that stress acne can also look like a combination of blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, and pus pimples.
'Using cleansers, pre-soaked pads or toners with salicylic acid ore benzoyl peroxide to wipe over the affected area on cleansed skin may also be of benefit,' reveals Dr Mahto. Don't be tempted to scrub away at existing spots – as with shaving it will only aggravate bum spots and make them look and feel worse.
The rash appears as small red bumps or pus bumps that can itch or be mildly painful. Folliculitis is common on the buttocks, arms and legs - especially the thighs. Most improve in 7 to 10 days. Sometimes after the rash is gone, dark marks can be left behind.
Possible complications of folliculitis include: Recurrent or spreading infection. Permanent scarring. Patches of skin that are darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation) than before the condition occurred, usually temporary.
Don't cut, poke, or squeeze the sores. This can be painful and spread infection. Don't scratch the affected area.
Sometimes folliculitis goes away without medical treatment. Self-care measures may help relieve your symptoms. For example, it might help to apply a warm, moist washcloth to the affected skin, followed by an anti-itch cream.
Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged or when the follicle is blocked. For example, this may occur from rubbing against clothing or shaving.
Aloe Vera Application
Long known as a natural healing solution, aloe vera applied topically to an irritated follicle site can help the skin repair as well as kill off some types of bacteria. The double-benefit has made aloe vera a regular go-to remedy for all types of skin situations, including folliculitis.
Bathe or shower daily with a mild soap. Also, bathe or shower after you exercise and after you work around chemicals. Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, or other personal items. If you have folliculitis, use a clean washcloth and towel each time you bathe.
These differ between people but often include stress, diet, and other lifestyle factors. The following factors can increase a person's risk of folliculitis: using an improperly maintained hot tub. shaving, plucking, or waxing.
Sometimes, when Malassezia gets into the hair follicles, it can cause an itchy condition that looks like an acne breakout. It usually occurs on the upper chest and back. This form of folliculitis is made worse (aggravated) by sweat.
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infectious cause of folliculitis. In most cases, folliculitis will disappear independently. The most common cause of folliculitis is damage to the hair follicle. Improper shaving techniques, tight clothing, skin rubbing, and some medications can all cause follicle damage.
There are two home remedies that are best for folliculitis: a soap wash and a warm compress. A soap wash is exactly what it sounds like–a good scrub with soap and water. You should clean affected areas twice a day with warm water and soap. Avoid sharing your towels with anyone after using them to dry affected areas.
Bottom spots are a little different, as Dr Serrano explains; "Spots on your bottom are likely to be caused by folliculitis, a condition that occurs when bacteria and dead skin cells get into your hair follicles, causing inflammation. This usually looks like small red bumps clustered around the follicle."
Many small pimples appear on your stomach and sometimes on your arms and legs. You might have a mild fever and have an upset stomach. Most of the time, this kind of folliculitis goes away on its own in 7 to 10 days.
Pilonidal disease is a cyst (capsule-like sac) located in the natal cleft (crease) at the top of the buttocks (sometimes called “butt crack”) that can become infected (called an abscess) and cause pain and drainage. Although it is often thought that hair in the cleft is the cause, this is not always true.